Extension hanger-strap for street-cars.



H. MURRAY.

EXTENSION HANGER STRAP FOR STREET CARS. APPLICATION rum) SEPT. 22, 1908.

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Patented July 13, 1909.

HENRY MURRAY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXTENSION HANGER-STRAP FOR STREET-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Application filed September 22, 1908. Serial No. 454,238.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY MURRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Extension Hanger-Straps for Street-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a hanger strap for street cars which, when in normal position, provides a strap of the proper length for a passenger of average height, but which can be readily extended to accommodate a passenger having a shorter reach. This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved hanger strap in its shortened condition; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the hanger strap extended, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line a e, Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 1 represents the usual strap rail with which street cars are ordinarily equipped. The device constituting the subject of my invention is suspended from this rail in any available manner, the means adopted for this purpose in the present instance being a strap 2 which is secured to a transverse bar 8, the latter bridging a space between a pair of oposito side frames 4 and being secured to or formed integral with the latter, as may be desired. These side frames are also secured to, or they may form part of, the stationary or upper hanger member 5, within which is mounted, so as to be free to slide vertically, the movable or lower hanger member 6, both the upper and lower mornbers being, in the present instance, of cylindrical form, although their form may be varied as desired without departing from the essential features of my invention.

The upper member 5 of the hanger has, in its rear portion, a vertical slot 7, for the reception of a lug 9 on the lower member 6, in order to prevent any turning movement of the latter. '1 he upper member of the hanger also has in its upper portion an opening 10 for the reception of the head 11 of a locking belt or lever 12 which is hung to a transverse pin 13 in the lower member 6 and is provided, at its lower end, with a projecting knob or button 14, the latter projecting through an opening in the said member 6 of the hanger and through a slot 15 formed in the lower portion of the member 5.

' To the lower portion of the member 6 of the hanger is secured, in any appropriate way, the strap 16 to be grasped by the passenger.

To a transverse bar 17 at the upper end of the member 6 is secured the lower end of a band or strap 19 of any appropriate material, which is wound upon a drum 20 mounted so as to be free to turn in suitable hearings on the side frames 4 and acted upon by an internal spring 21 which tends to turn it constantly in the direction of the arrow (Figs. 1 and 2) and thus maintain the lower member 6 of the hanger in the raised position shown in Fig. 1, in which position it is retained by engagement of the head 11 of the locking lever with the opening 10 in the upper mem her 5, said lever being normally moved. into engaging position by means of a spring 22.

When the hanger is thus in the raised or shortened condition the strap 16 is within convenient reach of a passenger of normal height. If, when in this position, the strap 16 is not within comfortable reach of a shorter passenger the latter may, by pressing the button 14, unlock the lower member of the hanger from the upper member and said lower member can then be drawn down until the hanger has been extended sufficiently to provide for the comfortable use of the strap, this operation unwinding thcband 1 9 from the drum 20 and tightening the spring 21, in order to provide a vertically elastic support for the strap 16 and insure the restoration of the parts to their normal position as soon as the hold of the passenger upon the strap 16 has been released. As the lower member 6 of the hanger is laterally confined by the upper member 5, the strap 16, when the hanger is extended, has no more tendency to sway than when said hanger is shortened, consequently it provides as eflicient support when in one position as when in the other. A shoulder 23 at the upper end of the lower member 6 of the hanger serves, by contact with a shoulder 24 at the lower end of the upper member 5, to prevent the separation of one from the other, and limit the downward movement of the member 6.

Secured to the side frames 4 of the hanger is a pocket 25 for the reception of a card 26 which may or may not be covered by a plate 27 of glass or other protective material, as desired, this card being used either for advertising purposes or for instructing the passenger as to the correct use of the hanger, or for both purposes.

While I prefer in all cases to employ the spring-actuated lifting device for the lower member of the hanger in order that .the latter may be automatically restored to its normal position when the strap 16 is released from the grasp of the passenger, such lifting device may be dispensed with in some cases and the said lower member of the hanger may be raised by hand, and although I have shown but one opening 10 in the upper member of the hanger for the reception of the head of the locking lever 12, a series of such openings may, if desired, be provided in order to lock the lower member of the hanger at different heights.

The knob or button 14 whereby the locking lever is actuated should be within convenient reach 01' the thumb of the same hand which grasps the strap 16, the use of both hands in manipulating the device being thereby rendered unnecessary.

I claim 1. In an adjustable hanger for street cars, the combination of a suitably supported uppermemberwithaverticallymovablelower member, and a locking bolt for retaining the latter in its retracted position, said locking bolt having a portion within convenient reach 01 the hand which grasps said lower member.

2. In an adjustable hanger for street cars, the combination of a suitably supported upper member, a vertically movable lower member, a locking device for retaining the latter in the retracted position, and a springactuated support for the lower member when the same is unlocked.

3. In an adjustable hanger for street cars, the combination of a suitably supported upper member,- a vertically movable lower member, and a spring-actuated bolt for retaining said lower member in its retracted position.

4. In an adjustable hanger for street cars, the combination of a suitably supported upper member, a card-receiving pocket thereon, a vertically movable lower member, and a locking bolt for retaining the latter in the retracted position.

5. In an adjustable hanger for street cars, the combination of the upper member having a bar with strap for supporting the same upon the strap rail of the car, a vertically movable lower member, and a locking bolt for retaining the latter in its retracted position.

6. In an adjustable hanger for street cars,

the combination of a suitably supported upper member, a vertically movable lower member guided therein, and a pivoted lever carried by the latter and having at one end a looking head and at the other end an operat- 7 ing knob or button.

7. In an adjustable hanger for street cars, the combination of a suitably supported upper member, a vertically movable lower member guided therein, a locking bolt for retaining said lower member in its retracted position, a spring-actuated drum, and a band wound thereon and connected to the lower member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY MURRAY.

Witnesses:

HAMILTON D. TURNER, KATE A. BnAnLn. 

